Repricer



Feb. 22, 1938. G.,W. HENRY. JR 2,10

I REPRICER T Filed Feb. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 frwnfor Gear yeMfiezzry Jr.

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February21, 1936, Serial No. 65,157

6 Claims.

This invention relates to repricing devices of a character used tochange the price markings on price tags, the specific function of thedevice being to sever the lower portion of the tag containing the priceindication and to simultaneously print at the bottom of the remainingportion of the tag the new price indication. I

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterthat shall be characterized by compactness and simplicity of form andmanipulation, the invention also contemplating the provision of a devicethat shall be capable of printing duplicate markings on a single tag asand for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The invention further resides in the mechanical details of constructionhereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side View of the device showing the parts in the normal orinoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing the parts in the relativepositions assumed at the end of a working stroke;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but partially sectioned in thelongitudinal direction on the line 3-3, Fig. 4, to illustrate thedetails of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view showing the working parts of themechanism;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the mechanism as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the device withthe working parts thereof in the relative positions in which they areshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View illustrating the cutting blade in thenormal retracted position and indicating in broken lines the position ofthe blade at the forward end of its stroke;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are, respectively, detached views in perspective ofelements of the mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a view showing a price tag of conventional form;

Fig. 12 is a view of the tag following operation thereon by the deviceforming the subject of the invention; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a view in perspective and fragmentaryelevational View show-' ing modifications within the scope of theinvention.

With reference to the drawings, the device comprises a body member Ihaving an extension 2, constituting a handle element, and offset sideplates 3, 3. The inner face of each of the side plates 3 is providedwith a pair of ribs 6, 4 forming a channel in which is established aU-shaped member 5, which is secured rigidly to the side plates by meansof screws 6. As illustrated, the bottom of this "U shaped member 5extends'below the lower edges of the plates.

slidably mounted between the plates 3, 3 on respectively, of a cutterblade L'a typesupporting member 8 and a type-retaining plate '9, theseelements being secured together in face-'to-face relation by means ofscrews II. The member 8, which lies between the blade 1 and the plate 9,is of lesser width than the last-named elements and fits between thelegs of the member 5, as shownin Fig. 4. The side edge portions of theblade I and the plate 9 engage the opposite sides of the legs of themember, also as shown in Fig. 4, and thereby slidably retain theassembly in position.

The blade 7, as shown in Figs. 6 and 1, comprises a cutting edge I2inset from the bottom of the blade, said edge being of angularformation, as illustrated, to thereby in operation afford a progressiveshearing effect, as hereinafter set forth. The blade also comprises arectangular opening !3, the upper and lower edges of which are defined,as shown in Fig. 6,by rearwardly extending flanges I 4, M. The normalretracted position of the blade with respect to the member 5 is shown inFigs. 3 and '7, and it will be noted that in this position the portionsl5 of the blade which lie at the opposite ends of the cutting edge l2extend downwardly to a point in or below the plane of the cross bar ofthe member 5. In operation, this cross bar cooperates with the cuttingedge E2 of the blade to afford. the required shearing action, it beingnoted by reference to Fig. 7 that when in the cutting operation theblade 1 has been advanced to the extreme advance position, as shown inbroken lines, the said cutting edge lies entirely below the upper orinner edge of the cross bar. Secured to the back side of the blade andto the portions l5 thereof previously referred to is a strap l6 which issecured to the blade by means of screws ll, this strap being offsetrearwardly from the rear face of the blade and constituting a stop orgauge determining the depth of the cut or the amount of the price tagthat is cut away, as hereinafter setforth.

The member 8, which as previously described is secured to the oppositeface of the blade 7, is shown in the detached perspective view of Fig.8. This member 8 has formed in its forward face a series 'of slots lladapted for reception of type elements It which in normal positionproject at both the top and bottom of the member 8. These type elementsl8 are held in the slots by means of the plate 9 which issecured to theslotted face of the member 8. The plate 9, as shown in Fig. 9, hasprojecting from its outer face a threaded stud i9, and on each side ofthis stud a pin 2 I. The stud l9 and pins 2| are adapted for receptionof a type-retaining clip 22 which is retained in position on the plate 9by means'of a nut 23 and which extends rearwardly at the top over thetype elements I8 and thereby functions to hold these elements in theirholder 8. The elements l8, as illustrated, have at their upper ends anoffset portion 24 forming a shoulder which by engagement with the uppersurface of the retainer 8 prevents movement of the type in the holder inan opposite direction. For replacement of the type elements l8, it isonly necessary to release the retaining element 22 by release of the nut23, the type elements being then withdrawn from the upper ends of theslots l1. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 6 that when the type andcutting blade assembly has been advanced from the normally retracted tothe fully advanced position, the lower ends of the type elements [8which constitute the printing faces of these elements are brought downinto engagement with the transverse bar of the member 5. This transversebar, therefore, constitutes not only an element of the shearing devicebut also the printing platen upon which that portion of the tag which isto be printed rests during the printing operation.

The type and cutter blade assembly is actuated through the medium of alever 25 pivotally mounted upon a bolt 26 extending between the sides ofthe lever 2, see Figs. 3 and 4. The lever 25 consists of two parallelarms 25a, 25a which are connected at their rear ends by a pin 21 and attheir forward ends by a pin 28. This latter pin constitutes a journalfor a roller 29 which fits between the flanges l4, l4 of the blade 1.The arrangement is such that oscillation of the lever 25 about its pivoton the: bolt 26 will effect a reciprocation of the type and bladeassembly between the retracted and advance positions previouslydescribed. A spring 3| supported on the bolt 26 between the arms 25a ofthe lever 25 and having its ends confined between the handle extension2, and a bolt 32 extending transversely through the lever 25 normallyresiliently hold the lever in a position retracting the type and cutterblade assembly, as shown in Fig. 3. This retracted position of the saidassembly is determined by a stop element 30 which is secured by one ofthe bolts 6, see Fig. 4, to the outer face of one of the side plates 3and which has at its upper end an inturned flange overlying the top ofthe assembly and limiting its upward movement under the action of thespring 3|.

The bolt 33 constitutes a pivotal connection between the lever 25 and asecond lever 33, this latter lever constituting the movable handleelement of the instrument and the medium through which the instrument isoperated. A spring 34 mounted on the bolt 32 is confined between the pin21 and the lever 33 and tends to retain the two levers in the relativepositions in which they are shown in Fig. 3. When the lever 33 has beendrawn from this position toward the handle element 2 to a predeterminedextent, the body of the lever 33 engages the outer end of the lever 25,after which engagement a continued movement of the lever 33 towards thehandle element 2 will actuate the lever 25 around its pivot 26 toadvance the type and cutter blade assembly as previously described. Itwill be noted, however, that during the initial part of this movement ofthe lever 23 towards the handle element 2, there will be nocorresponding movement of the lever 25.

The lever 33 is of channel formation similar to the handle 2, and is soformed as to constitute in effect a bell crank, the inner arm of whichconstituted by the spaced inner ends 33a of the lever is connectedthrough rods 35 with the arms 36 respectively of an oscillating member31 pivotally supported between the ears 3a of the side plates 3, thispivotal connection being effected through the medium of bolts 38. Therods 35 are connected to the mid portions of the arms 36 by means ofbolts 39, the ends of the rods 35 being spaced inwardly from the innerfaces of the arms 36, see Fig. 5, and being separated from the latter bymeans of spacer sleeves 4|. Attached to the lower ends of the arms 36 ofthe member 21 is a transverse member 42 having in its upper face arecess 43 for reception of an ink pad 44. The normal position of themember 31 is shown in Fig. 3, it being noted that in this position thepad 44 lies in contact with the printing faces of the type elements 24.When the lever 33 is drawn from its normal extended position shown inFig. 3 toward the handle element 2, the initial movement of this leverabout the bolt 32 effects an outward swinging movement of the member 31toward the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6. This initialmovement of the member 31 is sufficient to clear the pad 44 from theprinting face of the type elements 24, so that when the lever 33 meetsthe outer end of the lever 25 and thereby initiates the movement of thelatter lever advancing the type and cutter blade assembly, the latterassembly is free to advance into the operative position. Following theinitial movement of the member 31, the outward oscillation of the member31 is continued through the movement of the lever 33 with the lever 25until the parts come to rest in their advance position, as shown in Fig.6.

It will be noted that the cutting blade 1 is provided with elongatedslots 45, 45 which are aligned with recesses 46, 46 in the side edges ofthe type carrier 8 and with slots 41, 41 in the plate 9. These slotsprovide passage for the rods 35 and clearance between the rods and theelements of the type and cutter blade assembly when the latter areadvanced and retracted, as previously set forth.

In the operation of the device, a tag such as shown in Fig. 11, theprice mark of which is to be changed is inserted in the device after themanner shown in Fig. 3, in which the tag, shown in broken lines, isindicated by the reference numeral 48. As illustrated, the tag restsupon the cross bar of the member 5, which, as previously set forth,constitutes the printing platen, and the inner end of the tag bearsagainst the stop bar I6, which thereby acts to locate the ta accuratelyin the instrument. In this position, the tag lies between the portionsl5, l of the cutting blade 1 and directly beneath the cutting edge 12.The handle lever 33 is then drawn towards the handle element 2, with theresult that the ink pad 44 is withdrawn from under the type elements,and these elements together with the cutting blade 1 are then advancedfrom their retracted position toward the tag. In this advance movement,the printing faces of the type elements 24 are moved down intoengagement with the tag 48 in a position above or inwardly of theoriginal price markings on the tag, thereby imprinting a new price mark.At the same time, the cutting edge l2 of the blade 1 functioning aspreviously described in cooperation with the member 5 severs the end ofthe tag which carries the prior price markings. The tag 48, followingthe completion of this simultaneous printing and cutting operation, isillustrated in Fig. 9. It will be noted that the type carrier 8 is inthe present instance provided with two distinct series of the slots I1,in which are mounted duplicate sets of type corresponding to the doubleprice marking upon the tag. The device, therefore, is adapted forrepricing tags of the double-marked type shown. It is equally welladapted, however, to the repricing of tags of the single-marked type. Itmay be desired in some instances to repric the tags without removing theprior price indication or indications. For this purpose I may replacethe cutter blade by a member 49, see Fig. 13, lacking the cutting edgel2 of the blade 11 previously described. In this case, also, the strap56 is replaced by a corresponding stop element 5i, see Fig. 14, which ismounted at the sides of the member 5 by screws 52. These screws passthrough slots 53 in the arms of the element 5'! so that provision ismade for adjusting the stop element to determine the position on the tagat which the imprint is to be made. This same adjustment stop elementmay be used with the previously described embodiment if desired.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with asupport structure comprising a platen, of a type carrier mounted in saidstructure for reciprocation with respect to said platen, an inkingmember mounted in said structure for movement transversely to the pathof said type carrier and arranged to engage the type face when saidcarrier is in a retracted position with respect to the platen, a leverfor advancing the carrier toward the platen,- and a second lever forfirst displacing the inking memher from the path of the carrier andsubsequently actuating the first lever to advance the carrier toward theplaten.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with asupport structure comprising a platen, of a type carrier mounted in saidstructure for reciprocation with respect to said platen, an inkingmember mounted in said structure for movement transversely to the pathof said type carrier and arranged to engage the type face when saidcarrier is in a retracted position with respect to the platen, and meansfor successively displacing the inking member from the path of thecarrier and advancing the carrier toward the platen, said meanscomprising a pivoted lever operatively connected to said carrier, asecond lever having an actuating connection with the lever first namedand operatively connected to said inking member, and means providing alost motion between said levers.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with asupport structure comprising a platen, of a type carrier slidablymounted in said structure for reciprocation with respect to said platen,said carrier comprising a. plate having a plurality of adjacent parallelslots for reception of the type elements, and clamping means fordetachably retaining said elements in the slots, a reciprocatory shearblade slidably mounted in said structure adjacent the platen, inkingmeans for said type including an applicator element movable transverselyto the path of said carrier, and mechanism including a common actuatorfor reciprocating the said carrier and blade and for synchronouslyoperating said inking means.

4. In a device of the character described, the

combination with a support structure, of a type carrier mounted forreciprocatory movement in said structure, a relatively fiXe-d platenmounted in said structure in the path of said carrier, an inking membermounted in said structure for movement in a path transverse to the pathof said type carrier and arranged to engage the type face when saidcarrier is in a retractedv position with respect to the platen, anarticulated lever pivotally, mounted in said structure and comprisingrelatively movable parts respectively connected to the said carrier andthe inking member, said lever being operative by movement under pressurein one direction to successively move said inking member to a positionremote to the path of said carrier and to subsequently advance thecarrier toward the platen, and resilient means for normally retainingthe said carrier in the said retracted position and the said inkingmember in the type face-engaging position.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with asupport'structuraof ,a type carrier mounted for reciprocation in saidstructure, a relatively fixed platen mounted in said structure in thepath of said carrier, a shear blade mounted at one side of saidcarrier'and arranged to cooperate with said platen in a shearingoperation when the carrier is advanced toward the platen, an inkingmember mounted in said structure at the opposite side of said carrierfor movement transversely to the path of said carrier and arrangedtoengage the type face when said carrier is in a retracted position withrespect to the platen, an articulated lever movably mounted in saidstructure and com.- prising relatively movable parts operativelyconnected respectively with the carrier and with the inking. member,said lever being adapted under pressure exerted thereon in onedirection, to successively retract the inking member from the path ofthe carrier and to advance the carrier toward the platen, and resilientmeans normally retaining the carrier in the said retracted position andthe inking member in the operative position with respect to said type. V

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with asupport structure, of a type carrier mounted for reciprocation. in saidstructure, a relatively fixed platenmounted in said structure in thepath of said carrier, an inking member mounted in said structure formovement transversely to the path of said type carrier and arranged toengage the type face when said carrier is in a retracted position withrespect to the platen, a lever pivoted in said structure for actuatingthe carrier, a handle'element for said lever pivotally secured to thelatter and having lost motion with respect to said lever, means foroperatively connecting said handle element with theinking member, andresilient means for normally'retaining the carrier in the said retractedposition and the inking member in engagement with the type face, saidlever and handle being relatively arranged so that the initial movementof the handle with respect to the lever in one direction eifects aretraction of the inking member from the path of said carrier

